Drive mechanism for moving-picture machines.



J. J. DAWSON.

DRIVE MECHANISM FOR MOVING PICTURE MACHINES.

Pat ented May 23,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. 0L)

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 21, 1914.

WITNESSES 1. INVENTOR f M v 1.]. DAWSON.

DRIVE MECHANISM FOR MOVING PICTURE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 21. 1914. 1 ,1 84,082. Patented May 23, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR fumes cl-Dawsoaz.

ATTORNEY characters against each other. The members 2, pro- JAMES J.-'nAwsoN, or McKEESPORT, PENNSXLVANIA.

DRIVE MECHANISM FOR MOVING-PICTURE MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent:

Application filed September 21,1914, Serial No. 862,695.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES J. Dawson, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at McKeesport, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drive Mechanism for Moving-Picture Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a drive mechanism for moving picture machines and has for its object to provide a mechanism of such class, whereby a plurality of moving picture machines can be alternately operated or driven from a common drive element.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drive mechanism for moving picture machines'which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, eflicient and convenient in its use,-readily set up, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in theaccomp'anying drawings wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views :Figure 1 is a top plan view of a drive mechanism in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Figs. 3 to 14 are details.

Referring to the .drawings in detail the mechanism comprises a frame formed of a longitudinally extending member 1, and a pair of inclined members 2, 3, which extend from the ends of the member 1 and abut ject in opposite direction but exten d at an outwardv inclination with respect to the member 1 and said members 2, 3, have their inner ends abut at a point opposite the transverse center of the member 2. The frame further includes a pair of uprights 1, 5, which are secured to the outer ends of the members 2, 3 and ends of the member 1. The members 1, 2 3, and uprights 4, 5 are constructed preferably of angle irons, and

the said members and uprights provide a,

, supporting base.

with T-couplings 11. The couplings 11 carried by the bar 9 are oppositely disposed with respect to the couplings carried by the bar 10.

Secured to the meeting inner ends of the members 2, 3, is a vertically disposed Y- shaped supporting member 12, and which has each of its arms provided with a. bearmg 13 and extending throughsaid bearing 13, as well as capable of revolving therein,

is a shaft ll, having a groove drive pulley l5 fixed thereto and the said pulley 15 isoper atedby a suitable transmission, as illus trated a belt 16.

The shaft 13 has each of its ends provided with a female clutching member and the said members are indicated at.17, 18. Each ofsaid clutching members 17, 18. has a portion of its length hollow to provide a bearing for the shaft. The shaft which associates with the clutching member 17 is indicated at 19 and the shaft whichassociates with the clutching member 18 is indicated at 20. Slidably moimted upon the shafts 19. 20, are male clutching members 21, 22, respectively. Each of the clutching members 21, 22, is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 23, and an annular groove 2i. The shafts 19, 20, are provided with pins 25, which extend through the slots 23 whereby the members 21, 22 are slidably connected to the shafts 19', 20.

Adjustably'secured to the shafts 19, 20, are collars 26 and interposed between these latter and the clutching members 21, 22, as well as surrounding the shafts 19, 20, are coil springs 27, thefunction of which is to normally shift the members'21, 22, to clutching engagement with the ,members 17, 18'.

. The shaft 19 is rotatably' mounted in the couplings 11 carried by thebar 10 and the shaft. 20 is rotatably mounted in the cou pling 11 carried by the bar 9. Fixed to the shaft 19, as well as tothe shaft 20, is a.

groove pulley 28, and each of said pulleys Patented May 23, 1916.

' mounted upon the cylindrical bar 8.

member 18.

has a suitable transmission, not shown, for a moving picture machine for driving it.

Associating with the clutchin members 21, 22, is a shifting element therefor, and which alternately moves the members 21, 22, in clutching engagement with the members 17, 18, that is to say, when the said element moves the member 21 in clutching engagement with the member 17, and the member 22 is shifted for clutching engagement with the When the member 21 is in clutching engagement with the member 17 the shaft 19 is driven causing thereby the operation of the moving picture machine which is driven from that pulley 28 carried by the shaft 19 and when the member 22 is clutched to the member 18 the shaft 20 will be operated causing that moving picture machine which associates with the pulley 28, carried by the said shaft 20 to be actuated. The shifting elements consist of a pair of arms 29, 30, and each of which is provided with a yoke 81. The yoke of the arm 30 engages in the groove 24 of the member 21 and the yoke of the arm 29 engages in the groove 24 of the member 22. The arms 29, 30, are connected together by tie members 32, 33, and said arms 29, 30, are slidz ilbly he shifting element is operated through the medium of a handle bar 34, which is fixed as at 35 to the arm 30, which passes through a guide 36 carried by the bar 10 and is provided with a handle 37.

What I claim is 1. A drive mechanism for a plurality of moving picture machines comprising a support, a drive element journaled in said support and provided with a pair of fixed hollow clutching members, said members prO- jecting from the ends of said element, driven shafts having their inner ends normally journaled in said clutching members, supporting elements arranged at the outer ends of said support and having the outer ends of said driven shafts journaled therein,

shiftable clutching means carried by said driven shafts near the inner ends thereof, means for operating a shiftable clutching member whereby it will couple with a fixed clutching member causing the operation of a driven shaft, and a transmission element carried by each of said driven shafts.

2.. A drive mechanism for a plurality of moving picture machines comprising a support, a drive element journaled in said support and provided with a pair of fixed hollow clutching members, said members proj ecting from the ends of said element, driven shafts having their inner ends normally journaled in said clutching members, supporting elements arranged at the outer ends of said support and having the outer ends of said driven shafts journaled therein, shiftable clutching means carried by said driven shafts near the inner ends thereof, means for operating a shiftable clutching member whereby it will couple with a fixed clutching member causing the operation of a driven shaft, and a transmission element carried by each of said driven shafts, and means mounted upon each of the driven shafts and engaging with the shiftable clutching member carried thereby for normally forcing it toward the fixed clutching member carried by the driven shaft.

3. A drivemechanism for a plurality of moving picture machines comprising a support, a drive element j ournaled in said support and provided with a pair of fixed hollow clutching members, said members proj ecting from the ends of said element, driven shafts having their inner ends normally journaled in said clutching members, supporting elements arranged at the outer ends of said support and having the outer ends of said'driven shafts journaled therein, shiftable clutching means carried by said driven shafts near the inner ends thereof, means for operating a shiftable clutching member whereby it will couple with a fixed clutching member causing the operation'of a driven shaft, and a transmission element carried by each of said driven shafts, and means mounted upon each of the driven shafts and engaging with the shiftable clutching member carried thereby for normally forcing it to.- ward the fixed clutching member carried by the driven shaft, and said driven shafts being arranged in longitudinal alinement with respect to each other and with respect to said drive element.

I In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. JAMES J. DAWSON.

Witnesses:

MAX H. SRoLovrrz, MARIE H. ZBIERA. 

